| Option | Works at | Watch out for | Best for | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💵 Cash (rupiah) | Everywhere: warungs, markets, tips, drivers | Bali ATM fees, money-changer tricks | Small stuff, tips | Cash & ATMs |
| 💳 Travel card (Wise / Revolut) | Hotels, restaurants, beach clubs, shops, ATMs | 1.5–3% card surcharges at some places | Most spending + ATM cash | Wise vs Revolut |
| 💳 Normal Aussie bank card | Same places | Foreign transaction fees; always pay in IDR, not AUD | Backup card | Cards in Bali |
| 📱 QR wallet (GoPay, DANA) | Any QRIS sticker, plus Gojek rides and food | Needs a local number; GoPay needs a passport upgrade | Stays of a month or more | Pay by phone |
Surcharge range: Bali Villa Realty, checked 2026-10-25. Details and sources are on each linked guide.
The setup most Aussies need
- A travel card with no foreign feesFor most spending and ATM cash. Pick one
- Your normal Aussie card as backupKept somewhere separate.
- A day's cash in rupiahFrom a BCA or BNI ATM, not the airport money changer.
- A QR wallet if you're staying a whileGoPay on your passport. How
Why can't you just scan QR codes with your Aussie banking app? QRIS only links with banking apps from six countries, and Australia isn't one. (Antara, checked 2026-10-25)
Wise: the card most Aussies take to Bali
Spend in rupiah at the real exchange rate, and withdraw up to A$400 a month from ATMs with no Wise fee (2.69% after that, from 1 May 2026).
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